UK Film Council abolished by Government!

Duggy747

What a disgrace. I remember hearing hub-bub before that the Tories would get rid of it before they were voted in, I didn't think they'd actually do it so quickly and ruthlessly.

BBC wrote:

The UK Film Council is to be axed as part of a cost-cutting drive by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), it has been announced.

The organisation, founded in 2000, had an annual budget of £15m to invest in British films and employed 75 people.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he wanted to establish a "direct and less bureaucratic relationship with the British Film Institute".

UK Film Council chairman Tim Bevan called it "a bad decision".

He said the announcement was "imposed without any consultation or evaluation".
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote

British film, which is one of the UK's more successful growth industries, deserves better.”

End Quote Tim Bevan, UK Film Council chairman

* More reaction to the announcement

"People will rightly look back on today's announcement and say it was a big mistake, driven by short-term thinking and political expediency," he said.

The DCMS said film funding would continue but would be distributed through other bodies.

Current lottery funding for film is £26 million per year. This is expected to increase to £32 million after 2012.

Direct government funding, currently about £25m a year, is being considered as part of the ongoing spending review.

In a statement, the DCMS said it was "clear that culture and creative industries will not be singled out as a soft target, and that the government will champion the value they bring".
Digital screens

The Film Council was set up by the Labour government to develop and promote the British film industry.

Funded by the National Lottery, it channelled about £160m into more than 900 films over the last 10 years, including Bend It Like Beckham, The Last King of Scotland and Streetdance 3D.

Film Council member Rebecca O'Brien: "It was a very sudden decision"

Other initiatives included the Digital Screen Network, which invested in 240 digital cinema screens across the UK - meaning the UK now has more digital cinemas than any other European country.

In a letter to the British film industry, John Woodward, Chief Executive of the Film Council, said he had been informed that "the target is to have the organisation totally closed down with its assets and its remaining operations transferred out by April 2012".

"That does, at least, give us time to honour our current commitments," he added.

Mr Hunt said 16 public bodies, including the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) would lose their funding as the government committed to "increasing the transparency and accountability of its public bodies, while at the same time reducing their number and cost".

"Many of these bodies were set up a considerable length of time ago, and times and demands have changed," he added.
Selected films funded by the UK Film Council

"The changes I have proposed today would help us deliver fantastic culture, media and sport, while ensuring value for money for the public and transparency about where taxpayers' money is spent."

Shadow Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw has accused the government cuts of being "hasty, ill thought-though and incoherent."

He added: "The UK fllm industry has just had its best year ever, earning millions for our country, but the Government is axing the UK Film Council without saying what or who will do its important work."

The MLA is also to be wound up by 2012, in order to "focus efforts on front-line, essential services and ensure greater value for money".

Responding to the announcement, chairman Sir Andrew Motion and chief executive Roy Clare have pledged to "continue to deliver a vibrant and effective expert service for the public who rightly expect excellent, sustainable museums, libraries and record offices in their local neighbourhoods.

"Stormy seas call for cool heads and steady hands," they added.

Some big films came from the council in the last few years so I find it quite bizzare that it's been done away with.

johnny_ultimate

FFS. Arts funding is a necessity, not a luxury, a necessity in my eyes. A vibrant cultural landscape is as important as an awful lot of other things, and yeah of course it's important to provide more basic needs first, but cutting something like this sets an unwelcome precedent.

UK Film Council have been responsible for promoting a lot of excellent films throughout the years (Shane Meadows stuff, In The Loop, Touching the Void, Fish Tank, Happy Go Lucky to name a few from wikipedia) and definitely a more reassuring sight before a film than the IFB logo (although wouldn't want that abolished either). A damn shame.

MrSir

Terrible news really what more can you say?

IvySlayer

Shocking, I wonder if Arts grants/opera houses were also cut by the British government?

Galvasean

IvySlayer wrote: »

Shocking, I wonder if Arts grants/opera houses were also cut by the British government?

Of course not. Films can't be art :rolleyes:

MisterAnarchy

The Tories ,typical of those imbeciles.
I cant see them lasting long in power over there.

Sanjuro

It's not just tories. It's governments in general. Politicians are never going to view the arts in a very positive light when it comes to doling out the cash. Arts would be very far down the list. Sure there have been incentives and initiatives in the past, but these are usually against the norm and eventually abolished. Had politicians any sense, they'd plough as much money as they can into the arts. The arts are incredibly important, being reflective of the public consciousness. As much as I hate the word, they do reflect the zeitgeist.

Renn

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

The Tories ,typical of those imbeciles.
I cant see them lasting long in power over there.

Apt username!

But yeah, this sucks big time.

It kinda makes some sense tbh, if they consolidate it into one body with decent infrastructure already in place then it could really help cut cost nad with film investment and tax credits looking secure this move could really lead to a healthy and vibrant film investment for years to come.

LittleBook

The DCMS said film funding would continue but would be distributed through other bodies.

Current lottery funding for film is £26 million per year. This is expected to increase to £32 million after 2012.

Am I missing something?

OK, admittedly they're vague about WHO will be getting the funding from now on but, personally, I don't consider the UK Film Council to have been all that successful.

Assuming the funding's still coming, just not to the UKFC, that is.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

yes, you're missing a chance to bash the black hating, gay baiting, woman beating conservatives. It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not, david cameron rapes puppies. Repeat that a hundred times in the morning when you're brushing your teeth, you'll understand this thread then.

Valmont

Private investment in British film will still continue, I really don't see the big deal at all. I guess this comes down to what you think the government should be doing and I don't think making films is their responsibility. If you all like the UK film council so much then make a donation.

Renn

I've given my life savings to them.

ultain

Valmont wrote: »

Private investment in British film will still continue.

True..might spare the public weak ass films as well.